Exports of heavy crude oil from Iraq’s Qayara oil field fell to just 10,000 b/d in November – down from 30,000 b/d in Q3 – arguably Iraq’s biggest oil sector casualty since nationwide protests exploded earlier this year. The field is operated by Angolan state firm Sonangol.
Unlike most of Iraq’s other fields, which are largely shielded from the ongoing instability (MEES, 8 November), the heavy crude from Qayara is transported via truck from the wellhead near Mosul to Basra, from where it is exported, mainly to India. Blocked traffic forced Sonangol to halt production for 10 days in November, dropping output down from October’s 14,000 b/d – itself the lowest since the field restarted production late last year (see chart & MEES, 2 November 2018). (CONTINUED - 319 WORDS)
